How To Plan A Camping Family Adventure

There are two ways you can make a family trip unforgettable: you can either make it amazing or turn it into a total failure. If the first option sounds more appealing, there are certain things you have to think through and arrange.

If you really know your family well and can predict what they might like or hate, there is nothing impossible.

So what are the main steps you need to take in order to make this camping trip work?

Make sure everyone feels comfortable.

Lack of comfort is the most common complaint that makes people hate camping. Obviously, you cannot enjoy yourself unless you sleep well and can rest when needed.

So if you want your family to have a good time, you have to buy a good tent (look for the best three-person tent or a bigger one, depending on how big your family is) and everything that makes it comfortable: sleeping bags, pillows, sleeping pads, etc. If your children cannot sleep without their special stuffed toys, take those as well.

Also, you can take camping chairs for eating comfortably and additional blankets for playing outside.

Make sure that everyone wears comfortable and light clothes that allow them to be active while not feeling too hot.

Take appropriate food for everyone.

Packing appropriate food is very important because you are not likely to encounter a supermarket in the country.

Only taking the essentials does not always work with a family, as your child may crave chocolate or bananas.

Hopefully, you know your family’s normal diet and can take it into consideration when planning meals.

Remember that food is not only about maintaining your energy level. It can turn into a fun family activity if you cook it together or eat around a campfire.

Consider entertainment

Even adults usually require additional entertainment when going camping. Looking at the stars is great, but you might also enjoy a book or some board games.

Of course, children need to have something to do as well. Generally, if you want to have fun together, it is crucial to come up with some active game ideas or songs to sing.

This does not necessarily mean that you have to take a ton of stuff with you. You can use the environment as a playground.

Safety first

There is a number of safety measures you have to ensure before taking your family on a camping trip

• sun protection (hats and SPF)
• medications
• hydration
• injury prevention
• instructions regarding poisonous plants
• insect protection

No matter how old your children are, you should always be ready for emergencies and have a set of essential medications with you.

In a similar way, you always have to be ready for bad weather, even if weather forecasts say it should be sunny. Taking a few raincoats and some tarp will always keep you on the safe side.

Think about how long they can stay away from home

Only real camping enthusiasts can enjoy camping for more than a few days. Most likely, your children will get tired and grumpy pretty soon. Therefore, it is always better to anticipate that moment and leave a bit earlier when they are still in a good mood.

This way, you will only preserve the good memories. There are similar rules for traveling with older people — they may get tired and not feel as good as you do after a couple of days.

Get noise and sun protection.

Waking up in a tent can be challenging if you are exposed to direct sunlight. If you want to sleep longer than 6 am, you might want to buy eye masks for all your family members. If you are taking some light sleepers with you that may be bothered by birds singing, take earplugs as well.

However, complete sensory deprivation can be dangerous, so make sure that at least one adult will be able to hear or see a sudden bear attack (not like they actually happen that often).

Why camping with your family is a great idea.

Obviously, preparing for a family camping trip is far from easy. So why would you want to spend this much time, effort, and money on this idea after all?

Your kids can get some off-screen time.

Nowadays, it is barely possible to keep children off their phones, laptops, or televisions for more than a couple of hours. Spending time outside is great for their physical and mental health.

Being in the country is educational.

You can actually teach your children something about animals, plants, stars, and nature. Moreover, as this experience is fun and interactive, they might even remember what you are teaching them.

Team-building

Team buildings are an important part of building any company. Why not apply this to families too? Without a doubt, doing something together will bring you closer and strengthen your relationships.

Unforgettable memories

What will your children remember when they are old? Video games, cartoons, and TikTok will probably be irrelevant many years from now. Still, you have a chance to build real memories by spending some quality time together without any distractions.

What common mistakes do people make when planning a family camping trip?

There is a pattern many campers follow that can lead to utter disaster. Make sure you avoid these pitfalls:

• not making a list of things to pack and forgetting something
• not taking enough food or not preserving it right
• taking a tent that is too small instead of the best four-season family tents

In conclusion, the main reason why families need to go camping together is that it eliminates all the distractions that normally stop us from actual communication.

Being outside is healthy and fun — this is something we need children to learn in a world that is slowly moving to total digitalization.

Planning may seem really hard, but all you have to do is remember about the special needs, preferences, and habits of every person in your family.